Spark-arrester



( No Model.)

- A. MITCHELL.

SPARK ARRESTBR Patented June 26, 1883.

flilrzesses- UNITED STATES PATENT ()FF cE.

ALEXANDER MITCHELL, OF \V ILKE S-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPARK-ARRESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,064, dated June 26, 1883. Application filed May 12, 1883. (No modell To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER 1\/IITCHELL, a citizen of the United States, residing in \Vilkes-Barr, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spark-Arresters for Locomotive or other Engines, of which the following is a specification.

'Myinvention relates to appliances for accomplishing the effective disintegration and pulverization of the larger particles of the unconsumed products of combustion, and for re lieving the smoke-box from an accumulation of the disintegrated or pulverized matter, and also provides means for the extinguishment or cooling of the sparks by water. The mechanical appliances employed, briefly considered, embrace a disintegrating-screen placed so as to confront the forward ends of the smoke-tubes, a box or receptacle for the sparks, within which a partial vacuum is formed by the ordinary exhaust of the engine, and in which a more perfect vacuum may be produced by the use of live steam, a pipe leading from the boiler to the spark-receptacle for supplying it with water, a water overflow valve, devices for withdrawing at stated times the sparks received in the box, and other features and*combinations, as hereinafter more fully specified. 111 the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the front portion of a locomotive-boiler, showing the application of my improvements thereto. Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly-in section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the grating or screen, Fig. 4 shows a modification hereinafter described.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in the respective figures.

A is the locomotive-boiler, of which Bis the gle, or is inclined downwardly from above the line of the top row of the tubes 1) to a point near the bottom of the smoke-box. The screen consists of bars a and cross-bars c c c The bars a are secured at their upper ends to the tube-sheet B of the boiler, and at their lower of which the top of the exhaust-pipe E passes.

I is a box or receptacle for sparks, which is connected to the lower end of the smoke-box O by a pipe or duct, J. The receptacle I is made of any suitable form, and of sufficient strength to withstand the internal or external pressure upon its sides to which it may be subjected.

K is a pipe which passes transversely through the top of the box I, andis periorated, as shown at c, the pipe, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, branching around each side of the smoke-box and unitin g at the top, where it is connected with aboss, (I, cast upon the front head, D, of the smokebox, and passes within the smoke-box and vertically into the stack G.

K is a steam-pipe passing through the apex of the screen H into the bend of the pipe K, through which pipe K live steam may be illjec'ted from the boiler into the pipe K, for a purpose hereinafter described.

. L is apipe extending from the water-space of the boiler or other watersupply into the top of the receptaclel.

' M is an overflow-valve near the top of the receptacle I, and Na suitable valve or door at the base of said receptacle for the removal at stated times of the sparks which may accumulate therein.

In Fig. 4 a modified arrangement of vacuumpipes is shown. The pipe K is double, or two separate pipes are used, which enter the base of the stack independently, and are connected by branches is directly to the exhaust-pipe E. In this case the live-steam pipe K unites with one of the branches 7:. Other modes of obtaining a vacuum may be used, as by the use of a low exhaust-pipe and a lift-pipe provided with suitable screens.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The draft induced by the blast will cause the sparks or cinders to be thrown from the forward end of the tubes 7) against the grating or screen F, and they will be thus pulverized and disintegrated. The draft will have the cf feet of creating a partial vacuum in the receptacle I, the result being the removal of the sparks from the bottom of the smoke-box into the receptacle by the pressurewithin the smoke-box. Thus the work of disintegration by means of the gratingor screen F is simultaneous with that of the removal ofthe disintegrated matter from the smoke-box into the receptacle I. Should it be desired to accelerate the removal of the sparks by the production of a more perfect vacuum in the receptacle, this may be done by forcing a jet of live steam into the vacuum-pipe K through the pipe K.

The receptacle I is or may be supplied with water up to the level of the overflow-valve M through the medium of the pipe L, and the receptacle then used for the extinguishment or cooling of the sparks. WVhen the box or receptacle has been sufficiently filled with the sparks and disintegrated matter, it may be emptied by opening the door N.

The means herein described of. arresting, disintegrating, and removing sparks from the smokebox are simple and effective, and do not affect the draft or steaming capacities of the engine to an appreciable extent.

My invention is applicable to locomotive, stationary, or portable engines, or, in fact, to any construction in which the exhaust of the engine leads to the stack.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a spark-arresting device, the combination, with the smoke-box, of a grating or screen, a box or receptacle for sparks, a duct or pipe connecting the smoke-box and receptacle, and a pipe leading from said receptacle to the stack, whereby a vacuum is created in the receptacle by the exhaust, substantially as set forth.

2. In a spark-arresting device, a grating or screen within the smokebox, a box or receptacle for sparks, and a duct or pipe connecting the smokebox and receptacle, combined with a vacuum-pipe connecting the receptacle with the stack, and a pipe uniting with the vacuum-pipe for forcing live steam into said pipe, substantially as set forth.

3. In a spark-arresting device, the combination of a screen within the smoke-box, a box or receptacle for sparks, placed exteriorly of the smoke-box, a duct or pipe connecting the smoke-box and receptacle, and a pipe for conveying water to said receptacle, substantially as set forth.

4. In a spark-arresting device, the combination of a spark box or receptacle, and a vacuum-pipe leading therefrom to the stack and presenting an extended perforated area within the spark box or receptacle, substantially as set forth.

5. In a spark-arresting device, a spark box or receptacle, and a vacuunrpipe leading thereto from the stack, combined with a vater-supply-pipe and an overflow-valve, sub stantially as set forth.

I11 testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALEXANDER MITCHELL.

Witnesses:

GEO. A. \VELLs, EDMUND G. BUTLER. 

